Antonio "Anthony" Talens Taberna Jr. (born January 16, 1975),[1][2] also known as Ka Tunying or Tunying,[3] is a Filipino broadcast journalist and radio commentator.[4]

Anthony Taberna
Taberna in 2019
Born
Antonio Talens Taberna Jr.

(1975-01-16) January 16, 1975 (age 49)
San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
Other namesTunying, Ka Tunying
OccupationJournalist
Years active1997–present
Agents
SpouseRossel Velasco (m. 2008)
Children2

At ABS-CBN, Taberna hosted television and radio programs covering news and public affairs. He is a former host of Umagang Kay Ganda (where he gained popularity in the segment "Punto por Punto") and XXX: Exklusibong, Explosibong, Exposé.[5] As a radio anchor, Taberna is one of the lead anchors for Dos por Dos alongside Gerry Baja. He is also the former anchor of Iba-Balita and Mano Mano of Studio 23 and later News plus on S+A.

Biography

edit

Early life and education

edit

Antonio Talens Taberna Jr. was born on January 16, 1975, in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, the fourth of seven children.[1] His father, Antonio Taberna Sr., was a provincial bus driver in Manila who only finished his education up until high school. His father died on August 18, 2002, after a period of ill health.[2] His mother, Benita Talens Taberna, only finished her elementary education.[1]

Career

edit

Taberna started his career as a part-time news writer in 1992 at DZEC, operated by Eagle Broadcasting Corporation. In 1997, he transferred to DZMM, an AM radio station owned by ABS-CBN where he became a Radyo Patrol reporter. In January 2000, he joined Gerry Baja in Ito Ang Radyo Patrol (lit. transl.This is Radio Patrol). The tandem then moved on to Gising Pilipinas (lit. transl.Wake Up, Philippines) in 2002, before they were given their own show, Dos por Dos.

As a television host, Taberna was featured on the morning show Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas and in the documentary program Kalye: Mga Kwento ng Lansangan. Taberna has been widely criticized for his rape victim-blaming on live television. A campaign to remove him from his position due to his bad ethics was met by opposition from Taberna's employer company, ABS-CBN.[6] On July 31, 2020, Taberna left ABS-CBN due to the ABS-CBN franchise renewal controversy when the Philippine Congress rejected the new legislative franchise of the network and he subsequently joined Manila Broadcasting Company's AM radio station DZRH in August 2020 and his show Dos por Dos moved to the station and resumed airing on August 31.[7] On September 6, 2022, Taberna joined All TV and would host the television program Kuha All![8]

Personal life

edit

Taberna is married to former broadcast journalist Rossel Velasco, and they have two daughters named Zoey and Helga Taberna.

The couple are the owners of the coffee shop-bakery-restaurant Ka Tunying's Cafe. The first branch of his coffee shop is located at Visayas Avenue in Quezon City. The Tabernas also opened additional branches of their cafe due to its popularity.[9]

Filmography

edit

Radio

edit
Year Title Role Network
1999–2002 Ito ang Radyo Patrol Host DZMM
2000–present Dos por Dos Co-Anchor DZMM (2000–2020)
DZRH (2020–present)
2001–2007 Gising Pilipinas Anchor DZMM

Television

edit
Year Title Role Network
1997–2020 TV Patrol Senior correspondent ABS-CBN
2000–2007 Alas Singko Y Medya/Magandang Umaga Bayan/Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas Host/Anchor ABS-CBN
2007–2020 Umagang Kay Ganda Host ABS-CBN
2007–present Dos por Dos Co-host DZMM TeleRadyo (2007–2020)
DZRH TV (2020–present)
2008–2009 Kalye: Mga Kwento ng Lansangan Host ABS-CBN
2010–2013 XXX: Exklusibong, Explosibong, Exposé Host ABS-CBN
2010–2014 Iba-Balita Anchor Studio 23
2011–2013 Ako Ang Simula Host ABS-CBN
2012–2013 Pinoy True Stories – Demandahan Host ABS-CBN
Mano Mano Host Studio 23
2013–2019 Tapatan ni Tunying Host ABS-CBN
2014 News plus Anchor S+A
2017 Wildflower Debate host ABS-CBN
2018–2019 Pareng Partners Co-host ABS-CBN
2019–2020 Kuha Mo! Host ABS-CBN / Kapamilya Channel
2022–2024 Kuha All! Host ALLTV

Controversies

edit

Iglesia Ni Cristo controversy

edit

In August 2015, Anthony Taberna announced that he will take a leave of absence from his two shows on ABS-CBN, citing "conflict of interest" due to the controversy surrounding the founding family of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC). Taberna was one of the personalities appearing in the INC members' assembly In EDSA In August 2015.[10][11]

Remarks on rape victim

edit

On February 19, 2018, a news report showing a video of a 19-year-old girl was delivered. She was allegedly gang-raped after meeting up with someone she was chatting with online. In the background, however, Anthony Taberna's voice can be heard, saying:

This is just remarkable. It’s not the first time that this happened. There have been so many incidents like this of eyeball meet-ups. What’s more dangerous is you not only go to that eyeball meet-up, you even went out for a drink. That’s the problem, that’s the hardest of all, especially since you’re drinking out with an all-male group.[12]

Taberna, however, didn't stop there. Seemingly cutting off Jeff Canoy, Taberna responded that in truth, women shouldn't put themselves in dangerous situations.

No. The truth is it’s easy to say that to men. Excuse me in so far as the victim is concerned, the one who must be given justice. But this should be a (warning) for future incidents. If you’re a woman, don’t enter a hole of evil-doers.[12]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "The humble and hard-hitting news man". The Manila Times. September 6, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Flores, Wilson Lee (November 11, 2012). "What Anthony Taberna wants to ask P-Noy & why he gets teary-eyed on TV". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  3. ^ "Paglabas ni Ka Tunying sa 'Wildflower,' ikinatuwa ng netizens". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. July 21, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  4. ^ Cruz, Marinel (July 25, 2009). "Point for point with Anthony Taberna". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on July 26, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  5. ^ "'XXX': Anthony Taberna exposes P3M scam". ABS-CBN News.com. July 5, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  6. ^ "Viewers Call for Anthony Taberna to Be Fired After Victim-Blaming on Umagang Kay Ganda". spot.ph. February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  7. ^ Biong, Ian (August 21, 2020). "Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja of 'Dos por Dos' officially transfer to DZRH". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  8. ^ Serato, Arnel C. (September 6, 2022). "Former ABS-CBN broadcaster Anthony Taberna inks contract with ALLTV". Philippine Entertainment Portal (in Filipino). Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  9. ^ "Anthony Taberna's Ka Tunying's opens new branch man". Manila Standard. January 22, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "Anthony Taberna takes leave of absence from TV, radio show". Rappler. August 30, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  11. ^ "ABS-CBN statement on Anthony Taberna's leave". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Anthony Taberna slammed for blaming rape victim; quickly apologizes to public (Inquirer.Net)". February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
edit